Hoffa: Administration wants to turn big rigs into time bombs
7/10/08

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The Truckers Report Merchandise

Depending on how far they raise the limits, freight rate better triple. In fact, it should triple anyway

the only thing that will increase is the costs to haul these heavy loads and the abuses of the compnies

They sure will raise the rates. The same way they were raised when 45' trailers replaced 40's, and 48' replaced the 45'. Rates really went up when 102" replaced the 96" wide trailers.

The biggest rate jump of all is when the 53' trailer came into being. I almost forgot a biggie. That is when 80,000 lbs replaced 73280 lbs. People who hauled by weight got some extra money, for a while.

The rate didn't usually drop after 80,000 lbs became standard, the rates just didn't increase over time as fast other freight, until in essence the freight was being hauled for the same rate as if the weight limit had not been changed.

Open up a new bank account, money is soon to come pouring in.

I suppose you can tell I am being sarcastic. I have seen firsthand these changes, (except when the 45' first came out), and the only thing that changed was the amount of freight I hauled for the same money.

Aint that the damn truth !!!

I've worked in a very diverse number of industries, other than trucking in my years. And this is the only one that actual TRIES to go out backwards. Lower rates...higher wages, truck payments, and fuel...WTF ???

Taking into account the cost of living increases since 1985. This entire industry is insane !!! We should be making .50 a mile to start as company drivers with less than one year experience. And rates should be $3 plus a mile for EVERY load...before fuel started going up.

I would include farming...but they're subsidized.

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Just in case you forgot..

Right Lane -- Lookin and learnin
Left Lane -- Turnin and Burnin

I agree with you 100%.Good post.

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Hermits of the world,UNITE!!!

NO HABLA JIBBER JABBER

"Haven't I told you a million times not to exaggerate"

CBA # 454

The sad thing about company driver wages is that I was making .33 per mile in 1989, and I was not at top level. This was not a union job either.

Today companies want to pat thenselves on the back and make drivers believe that are doing them a favor if paid that amount.

I was sitting here the other day reading a younger fellows post who was just finishing school and fixing to start work for one of the big outfits.He was excited and I remembered starting my working life and the hopes I pinned on that paycheck and my future..Golden dreams of yesterday I believe is the saying..The future is not very bright for that young man nowdays and for his dreams to be realistic they will have to be scaled way back from what our dreams were.That's a damned crying shame too.

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Hermits of the world,UNITE!!!

NO HABLA JIBBER JABBER

"Haven't I told you a million times not to exaggerate"

CBA # 454

that has been a point I have brought up many times

the brainwashing of the average driver and most "new" drivers.

I cringe when I get passed by a truck proclaiming to pay its drivers "top rate" etc etc (as advertised on back of trailer doors)...

I usually call the listed 1-800 number and chat with their recruiters as if I was interested...

the best I have found was 48 cpm - with 10 years verifyable...

then they asked if I was interested...

I said they had to match what I was making now - of course the recruiter said "no problem"

I then listed my basics and they start hmm'n and haww'n

Then he said he did not believe me...


I talk to Schneider drivers OFTEN (they stay at the same hotel we use in Carlisle Penna. - and most of them have been convinced (by Schneider) that they are doing as well as they could possibly hope for. They also feel that it is too big of a hassle to change jobs (?) and that there is an endless basket of opportunity at Schneider - and that the key to success lies with taking on a lease purchase truck...

most all of these guys have the same story - and have all bought in to this brainwashing...

Old D drivers also use that hotel and they act like they are scared to talk to any of us from UPS or ABF or Roadway - we all sit in the lobby and in the bar on our off time and these guys kinda look at us - and rarely will talk... rumor has it they have been told not to socialize with union guys for fear of losing their jobs...
One guy told us that if it got back to his manager that he was talking to us - he would get crap runs for a month... - NOW WHO IS THE ONE SHACKLED DOWN?

dunno.. sad though.. the few that have joined in while we are all talking are convinced that their 47 cpm and 401K is the best thing out there - and will argue to the grave that they could never get a union job with "all of the rules and the union telling them how to vote etc etc"..

AGHHHHHH!!!! the same rumors and BS all over again!

dunno folks - kinda scary - but if these guys are that blind and gullible maybe it is best that they do not come over to the union side of freight.

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TEAMSTERS LOCAL 100

The thing that burns me up is that all drivers now are brainwashed into believing that trucking is a "lifestyle" that requires anywhere from three to seven weeks out on the road to make any money, and that it has always been this way.

It has not always been this way. There have always been drivers that stayed out weeks at a time, but it was usually because that's what they wanted to do. These drivers were the minority. This indentured slavitude thing is something that has came along in the not too distance past.